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Marcus Benjamin @_BenjaminReport
Fort Lauderdale, FL – There’s speed and then there seems to be Florida speed. Some of the best in the state gathered at Mills Pond Park Saturday for the Football Hotbed seven on seven Season Opener to officially launch the seven on seven season. Strong Arm, based out of Miami Carol City, claimed the varsity championship defeating the South Florida Express sophomore team 20-16 in the final. The lefty quarterback Cedquan Smith made all the throws necessary for “Zuu Nation” to take home the hardware.
“He’s getting better every week,” said Head Coach Martin Maultsby about his quarterback. “Young kid, tenth grader, there’s a lot of pressure and there’s a lot of things that are expected from him, but he adapted.”
Cedquan Smith @Gip_Nephew5 rolling to his left and finding Thaiu Jones-Bell @ssnapppp was a combination that was working all day in route to the varsity championship 🏆 for Strong Arm at the @FootballHotbed #7v7football Season Opener. pic.twitter.com/7pa3HnlL24
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) February 3, 2019
Smith got the ball to his playmakers and they finished plays for him. Thaiu Jones-Bell, Willie Floyd Jr. and Jovan Ferguson were just some of his favorite targets. Ferguson caught a short pass, made one turn and took it the distance to extend the Strong Arm lead 20-8 with just over two minutes to go over the sophomores of South Florida Express.
.@JOVANFERGUSON19 made the big time play in a big time game. The 2020 ATH used his speed to get to the goal line and score for Strong Arm in the @FootballHotbed #7v7football Season Opener. It would prove to be the score needed to clinch the varsity championship. 🏆💰💯 pic.twitter.com/FXzh4SGqGK
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) February 3, 2019
“It’s big anytime to get a win in a tournament setting,” explained Coach Maultsby. “This should be something to catapult us for the rest of the tournaments knowing what we are capable of. It’s big for the kids and it’s big for the program itself.”
Thaiu Jones-Bell
Strong Arm also eliminated the South Florida Express Varsity team and Rush (Cardinal Gibbons High School 7vs7 team) in route to the championship. Strong Arm lost to Rush in their first game in pool play 23-2 but avenged the loss in the elimination round winning 25-16. Four straight wins crowned Strong Arm as champions and Ferguson walked away with the MVP award.
“Our kids came out and competed and that’s all we preach is competing. If you compete and do what you are supposed to do the wins will come.”
Watch the one handed snag here by Willie Floyd Jr. @4way_tat. This is a 2020 LB showing some ball skills at the @FootballHotbed #7v7football Season Opener. pic.twitter.com/6Xn1xSMVyX
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) February 3, 2019
New Champions of 15u
Also going home with a trophy on Groundhog Day was Defcon. 
Defcon is the new bully on the block when it comes to seven on seven and took home the trophy for 15u. Quarterback Collin Hurst looked impressive and had his way with opposing defenses.
Collin Hurst
Defcon would defeat the Miami Immortals 16-14 and Marvin Sims of Miramar High School was named MVP.
Marvin Sims
Other Top Performers
Varsity quarterback play or South Florida Express could probably start for any in Florida and maybe in the country. Katravis Marsh threw gorgeous deep balls that were caught for SFE touchdowns. 
The transfer from American (Miami Lakes) to Miami Central will seemingly give SFE a shot at a championship in every tournament they enter. Nick Vattiato (University School) also looked impressive throwing the ball as he calmly delivered the football to his playmakers and rarely looked unsure of where to go with the football.
Quarterback Kemani Brown was extremely accurate today for the Football Hotbed Varsity team. He also was in total command of the offense often directing his team where to be and how to carry themselves. Also performing well for Hotbed was wide receiver Joshua Guerin and quarterback Dylan Knaebel for 15u.
Yulkeith Brown (Gulliver) received co-MVP honors and was a problem for opposing defenses no matter he lined up. He has good size and hands will continue to make the 15u Miami Immortals team a contender in tournaments in the future.
Geo Ribalta (Miami Central) was a co-MVP recipient and has been patiently waiting for his time to shine. His time seems to be now to truly step into the role as a reliable playmaker. Geo made catches in traffic and is not afraid of the contact or the task of taking a defender deep. South Florida Express will need him to perform to continue their run of success.
